After some dessert, Mom suggested, “I say that we have an obstacle course, and I shall make up the course that everyone else will go through.”
“Alright, that sounds fun, but I really don’t want to throw up dinner!” said Dad.
“You will have time to digest your food while I create the first obstacle course! Now why don’t you go to the stairs for me so you can do the obstacle course!” said Mom, and with that, she got to work.
Everyone went to the top of the stairs and nervously watched as Mom set up the first course using chairs, stools, etc.
“Here’s what you are going to do,” said Mom, “You have two minutes to complete the obstacle course. You are to start at the stairs, where you are. You are going to run downstairs and immediately do a summersault. You will then, without stopping, crawl through this tight-fitted tunnel I made as fast as you can,”
This so-called “tunnel” was constructed of two chairs put together with a small blanket stretched over the top, but when she said this, everyone got nervous, for it didn’t have very much space.
“You will spin around in circles three times, and exactly three times, without slowing down, or miscounting. Leap upon this stool and collapse on the couch.” said Mom, demonstrating, “Now, I am writing out a score sheet to keep track of how many times you complete the courses I make. We shall begin with Moses. I will count you off. Ready, set, GO!” said Mom, starting the timer.
Moses bravely began. He completed the course at a steady pace.
Allison went next. However, she did it very well until she spun around, then she got dizzy and fell.
“Oh, no, Allison! It’s okay, I am sure you will get it next time.” said Mom, putting an X on the column for Allison’s score.
“Emily’s turn!” said Mom, “Ready, set, GO!”
Emily didn’t make it; she slowed down at the tunnel.
As Emily stood in the corner of the room with those who had made an attempt to do the course, she excitedly watched Joe.
Joe ran down the stairs—but did it too quickly, for he tried to roll, but splatted on the ground instead.
Dad must have learned from Joe’s mistake. He did okay on the running and rolling, but he tried to get through the tunnel, but got stuck!
“Help! I’m stuck! I can’t get out!” said Dad, helplessly.
“Dad gets an X, but I’m thinking that it was probably the maker’s fault over that!” said Mom.
“Now then, Dad! I guess you better stay clear of tunnel courses!” teased Joe, taking apart the tunnel over Dad’s head to let him go free.
So Mom set up another obstacle course.
“For this one, you will start on the floor, laying down.” began Mom, and Moses and Allison giggled, “When the timer beeps, you have two seconds to get up off the floor. Once you are standing up, spin around five times, fast. Immediately after spinning, run through this curvy path I have made, very fast, with no bumping into anything, and no falling over.” The walls that surrounded this path were chairs and other furniture, “Then do a somersault, and leap up these stairs, and if you are ten years or older, you must leap two at a time!” said Mom.
It kind of looked easy at first, and everybody figured they’d get through easily.
However, he barely got up before two seconds, spun around five times like Mom had told him to, but he was so dizzy when he tried to go through the path, he kept running into things, and soon fell down.
“Ow! That’s a hard one!” said Moses, “Who would have thought it?”
This made Allison nervous, but she laid down after being told how to spin, and barely completed the course, being on the edge of running into a chair on a curve.
So Emily did, but she wasn’t up by two seconds, which immediately got her out.
Joe did his best, and he said he was so dizzy afterwards, he “knew he wasn’t going to make it”, but he did.
Dad got up in two seconds, spun around five times, and was in the act of running through the path, but crashed into a chair, and all of the furniture—and Dad—went crash to the floor.
“Are you okay?” shouted Allison, who thought it was just a joke.
“Yeah, I’m fine, but it did hurt!” replied Dad, getting up and everyone helped to stand up the furniture.
So Mom planned another course…
Joe won because he completed the most, which was rather amazing, and they all went to bed full of happiness.
